The first of the thefts took place between the afternoon of Wednesday April 6 and the following afternoon, when Luke Thompson’s refrigerated Mercedes Sprinter van, worth around £6,000, was taken from Station Road, Chertsey.

Wholesaler Mr Thompson’s girlfriend Leanne Nutter, 33, said: “We actually had a lot of personal stuff in the van because we are having work done at the house, so there was a bed in there and kitchen utensils.

“We were in total shock. It’s always parked there outside.

“We had an email back from the police after reporting it, which said ‘case closed’.

“I know they have more important things to be doing but I feel like if they don’t really investigate it properly then people might do it more.”

On Friday night a white Ford Transit, belonging to builder Danny Marshall, containing around £8,000 of tools was stolen from Hazelbank Road in Chertsey.

Mr Marshall’s girlfriend Louisa Collis, 32, said: “Danny parked up from work at 5.30pm on Friday night and it had about four miles of diesel in the tank.

“The next day he went out to the van at 11.30am and it wasn’t there. There was no broken glass. He rang the police.”

Remembering it only had four miles of diesel in it, he went to the closest petrol station on Bridge Road where the attendants checked the cameras, but it appeared that no vans had used the station overnight. The van was an 08 plate so it was probably the tools they wanted,” added Miss Collis.

“The police told us to look around industrial estates and or country lanes as someone might dump it.

“It’s your whole livelihood. We think there was about £8,000 worth of tools in there. We are going to have to replace it all, it’s heartbreaking.”

A further silver Ford Transit van belonging to builder was stolen from outside his house in Milton Road, Row Town during the early hours of Sunday morning.

Mr Wood, 36, said: “I went out in the morning to take my son to football.

“It’s usually as you walk out the door. Your first thought is if I left it somewhere but it had gone.”

His partner Alison Penn then phoned the police but the van has not been traced.

“I made a complaint to the police and someone contacted me today about it.

“I am a builder and had everything in that van. I’ve estimate there was about £6,000 or £7,000 tools in the van and they were not covered by insurance.”